The Whitsundays

ABOUT THIS REGION The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of 74 continental islands of various sizes off the central coast of Queensland, Australia, situated between just south of Bowen and to the north of Mackay, some 900 kilometres (560 mi) north of Brisbane. The island group is centred on Whitsunday Island, while the group's commercial centre is Hamilton Island. The traditional owners of the area are the Ngaro People and the Gia People (Birri Gubba Language Group), the Juru Clan of which has the only recognised Native Title in the Region. The Whitsundays are located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. A visit to the Whitsundays is a feast of the senses, surrounded by natural beauty, dotted with secluded beaches and friendly towns from which to explore. The Whitsunday islands are a popular tourist destination for travellers to Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef with the area being one of the most popular yachting destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. The island received about 700,000 visitors between March 2008 and March 2009. The Ngaro Sea Trail Great Walk is a mix of seaways and short walks, crossing South Molle, Hook and Whitsunday islands. The tracks across the islands are linked by seaways suited to kayaking, sailing or powerboating. Camping is available at eight camping areas on the three islands. Several islands have large resorts, offering a wide variety of accommodation and activities. Fly over the iconic Heart Reef, a stunning composition of coral that has naturally formed into the shape of a heart. Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays, is a cosmopolitan and vibrant beach town filled with palm-fringed beaches, waterfront parks and alfresco dining restaurants. Airlie Beach is the epitome of a beach town; you'll instantly feel the carefree and relaxed environment. Eight of the islands in the Whitsundays are resort islands and all vary in size and style and seem to capture a different mood. The island resorts include Brampton, Daydream, Hamilton, Hayman, Hook, Lindeman, Long and South Molle Island. INDUSTRY RESOURCES Regional Tourism Website : The Whitsundays Regional Tourism Website : Queensland Tourism Research and Statistics : Tourism and Events Queensland Local Councils : QLD Councils CREDITS Information Source : Wikipedia Information Source : Queensland Tourism Image Credit : South Molle Island, Mackay : Tourism and Events Queensland Regional Map : Copyright 2014 GoPanda Communications GoPanda